Election time action: support a BC graduate scholarship program

Let BC's election candidates know we support the creation of a BC Graduate Scholarship!

Over the past few years, the GSS has worked with graduate student organizations at UBC, SFU and UNBC in advocating for the creation of a graduate scholarship program in BC. Our proposal is here.

Elections are a chance to raise important issues, and I hope you will take the time to send the party leaders a message about the importance of funding graduate education in BC.

Provincial graduate funding is important because:

 - Among the larger provinces, only BC has no graduate scholarship program

 - Graduate students contribute to the university as teachers-which in turn helps the ability of the university to accommodate undergraduate enrollment

 - A funded graduate student completes their degree in a timely manner

 - Graduate students contribute to the province-whether through research that benefits BC communities, or by adding to our province's ability to innovate after graduation

Visit http://bcgradscholarship.ca to send your message.

Here you'll find some sample text. You can send it as is, but we strongly encourage you to create your own message.

Please circulate this call to the students and faculty in your department to help us spread the word.

And of course, don't forget to vote on May 14!

Stacy Chappel

GSS Executive Director

Authorized by the University of Victoria Graduate Students' Society, registered sponsor under the Election Act, 250-472-5163.

Ontario steps up to save the Experimental Lakes Area

This morning the Ontario government announced it will provide financial support to ensure the Environmental lakes Area is sustained for "long term operations".

The Experimental Lakes Area, which had continuous data on 58 protected lakes since the 60s, was one of several research funds cut in the federal budgets of 2012 (previously on this blog). The Area was previously funded through the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans.

The Globe & Mail reports the exact nature of the funding commitment remains unclear.

CBC story is here, quoting Ontario Premier Wynne saying: " I don't believe that either provincially, regionally, or nationally and internationally we can afford to let it go." (Hear hear!)

Learn more about the Experimental Lakes Area  on their site.

Enjoy Rick Mercer's rant about the original cuts here. "In the world of science, they are rock stars! ... [ELA scientists] up there living in tents and shacks, with their big bushy bears, eating mung beans out of mason jars, trying to figure out what different chemicals will do to our drinking water...". :)

Watch Higgs weep during announcement at CERN

The UK telegraph has this lovely video, showing the announcement of the Higgs Boson particle at CERN in Switzerland early today.

Despite the many attempts of UVIC phsyics grad students, I don't fully understand it. But it is always  moving to see such great leaps in scientific understanding, and the enthusiasm of those involved in world class research.

Congrats to everyone involved! And remember today when you think of the importance of research.

SFU graduate students win designated seat on BOG

University Boards have a lot of clout -- they approve university budgets, major capital projects, and review the president.

Simon Fraser University's Board of Governors voted in their June meeting to allocate the two student seats on the Board of Governors to ensure undergraduates and graduates each have one seat.

The Peak (SFU student paper) has reported on the issue--and the mixed reactions to the change-- here.

BC makes opens data and makes it easier to have your say

The BC Government has launched a new web portal to make it easier to find and participate in public consultation processes.


Govern Together BC provides updates on policy changes, and has a searchable data base to discover any current public consultations. The site also provides a link for those interested in applying for government appointed seats on public bodies.


The list of current consultations includes panels reviewing the carbon tax, fisheries regulations, and transparency in the justice system.

The site also pointed me to Data BC, which provides public access to BC government data.
The site is very useable... for instance, in abut 1 minute, I was able to download the following information about unemployment rates by type of post secondary education attained.

Unemployment Rate of Graduates from Public Post-secondary Institutions by Credential Type
BC Public Post-secondary System, Survey Year 2006 to 2010
Published November 2011
Unemployment Rate (%)	Survey Year
Credential Type	2006	2007	2008	2009	2010
Bachelor Degree Graduates	3.9%	2.8%	3.6%	5.9%	6.6%
Apprenticeship Graduates	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	9.6%
Diploma, Associate degree, & Certificate	6.3%	6.1%	6.4%	9.5%	10.9%
high school or less (8 to 29 yrs)	7.6%	6.5%	7.7%	13.4%	14.0%

Graduate students with research interests in areas affected by public policy could find this a practical tool.

Martlet weighs in on Access Copyright

The Martlet has weighed in on UVIC's change of heart regarding access copyright.

(previously reported on this blog - UVIC's earlier decision to leave the ACCESS copyright, along with many other Universities)

The long reach of Budget 2012, and it's impact on Canadian research

Is there an aspect of Canadian research that is not impacted by the 2012 federal budget?

 

As implementation of the 2012 Federal budget begins, researchers across the country are raising the alarm about resulting cuts to a variety of research programs in Canada. Marine research, climate research, archaeology, archives, and the fund for purchasing scientific equipment are all subject to cuts. 

Researchers are calling the cuts a disaster for Canadian Science

Over the past few weeks I have attempted to collect information on cuts to research programs resulting from the 2012 federal budget. What follows is what I have found – please add to the list, if you know of more.

ARCTIC RESEARCH
37 northern research facilities have been cut due to cuts to the federal science research funding agency, NSERC. This article discusses cuts to arctic research, notably Kluane research station.

Ontario’s Experimental Lakes Area, famous work that removed phosphates from cleaners, will also face cuts.

Some scientists say budget cuts are causing dispersal of Canada's ice core library, but the government is contesting this.

[In case you, like me, are unaware of the ice cores, here is a description from the article:
The collection of ice-cores was drilled from ice caps and ice fields throughout the Canadian Arctic. It comprises more than 1,000 metres of ice cylinders documenting thousands of years of climate history. Most of the cores contain ice dating back to the end of the last glaciation, about 12,000 years ago, but some may contain ice up to 80,000 years old. The longest of the cores, extracted from the Agassiz ice cap on Ellesmere Island, is longer than 330 metres.

Cores are important sources of data on past climate change, because they can contain dust, gas bubbles and chemical isotopes that give clues as to atmospheric and temperature conditions when the ice was laid down. The resolution of the information is often sharper than that in other proxies, such as ocean sediments.]

I have heard from faculty that the ice cores are valued world wide, and cost a hefty amount to collect and set up storage -- money that will be wasted if they are indeed lost to budget cuts.

FUNDING FOR EQUIPMENT

I’ve also heard from people in the sciences that the NSERC fund Canadian scientists in universities use to purchase their equipment will end in one year -- meaning that right across the country, all labs will have to make due with whatever they have now and can obtain in the next twelve months.One casualty of this cut is the Neutron Beam Centre at the Chalk River Nuclear Plant and another is Canadian meteor research.

BAMFIELD RESEARCH STATION

Bamfield's world renowned marine research centre (near Tofino) is also facing drastic cuts. The Pacific Marine Analysis and Research Association (PacMARA) blog has attempted to catalogue cuts that will impact marine research, but says they are “surely incomplete”.

ARCHAEOLOGY

Parks Canada cuts are described as “draconian” by the Canadian Archaeological Association because of their on archaeological research. Archaeologist and blogger Tim Rast has catalogued cuts to archaeology here. In many cases, regional labs will see their artefacts transferred to central storage in Ottawa.

ARCHIVES

The sciences are not the only researchers feeling the pinch in this budget.

You may have heard archivists speaking out about cuts to an archival program that ensures support to small community archives, and development of online access to archives. UVIC’s archivist, Lara Wilson, joined an “Ottawa trek” of archivists modeled on Canada’s historic “On to Ottawa Trek”. The campaign, and the reasons our archives are important to more than historians, are featured in this CBC radio story. One estimate says the cuts could close 800 of Canada's smaller archives.

CAUT’s RESPONSE

CAUT has harshly criticised cuts to research in the recent federal budget, noting cuts to funds that make it possible for professors to take research time. CAUT raises concerns about government interference in research areas, funding “bricks and mortar” while cutting the programs that fund the use for these facilities. They also state they were told to “shut up” by the policy advisor to Gary Goodyear, Minister of State for Science and Technology, when they met to raise their concerns.

Start up visa program linked to research and innovation

Policy Monitor is reporting that changes to federal immigration policy are being considered. Citizenship and Immigration Canada has announced they are consulting with industry about a proposal to increase immigration targeting at business innovation and research.

This language echoes the priorities in the 2012 federal budget, and previous changes to immigration aimed at graduate students.

Hopefully Canada isn't losing innovators with the decision to have some applicants on wait lists start their immigration application over again.

Quebec women's centres strike in support of students

Hundreds of thousands of students have been demonstrating against the reduction of funding for university education in Quebec.

Today, Quebec women's centres went on strike in support of the students, stating:

En effet, un système d’éducation accessible est au cœur de la construction d’une société plus démocratique et plus juste. La lutte qui est en cours concerne tout le monde et tout particulièrement les femmes parce qu’elles avaient largement bénéficié de la démocratisation de l'accessibilité aux études : accès à de meilleurs emplois et à de meilleurs salaires, augmentation de la participation aux débats publics, amélioration de l’autonomie économique et de leur émancipation.

[my rough translation:

Effectively, accessible education is at the heart of the effort to build a just and democratic society. The struggle that is happening now concerns everyone, especially women, because women have largely benefited from making education accessible through access to better jobs and salaries, increased participation in public demate, economic autonomy and emancipation.]

Linking cuts to university education to cuts to health, women, and first nations, they issued a statement via video as well (in French). It states, among other things, they have followed 11 weeks of protest and deplore the use of pepper spray on peaceful student demonstrators, calling it disproportionate and gratuitous:

UVIC leaves Access Copyright, along with 35 other AUCC members

The Ring reports UVIC will not renew it's Access Copyright membership in 2012.

AUCC had negotiated a deal that would cost universities 26$ per full time student per year, replacing an old 10 cents per page cost for course packs. (UVic says it paid $3.38/student per year at the 10 cents per page rate). No doubt this would have ended up a fee transferred to students. (UVic decided to leave Access Copyright in December--at which time the price for Access was going to be $45/full time student).

Today, Michael Geist writes in the Tyee that several schools are breaking ranks with AUCC on how to deal with accessing copyrighted material in academia. Geist points out there is a trend toward creative commons licensing in academic journals, and many universities already pay for online journal access, making the course-pack style redundant.

Teaching classes? More details on UVIC copyright policies and changes are here.

Analyzing the Quebec student demonstrations

A group of self-described progressive economists have called out CBC's Rex Murphy on some simplistic "stop complaining' analysis and considering how funding for universities has changed.

I couldn't agree more. I have been frustrated at the media analysis of the Quebec student protests, which seem to ask only how Quebec tuition compares to tuition in other provinces, but don't look at the dramatic changes to the Quebec education system being proposed by the Charest government.

I think it is important to consider more than this-- in particular the percentage of the cost of education covered by tuition, and how it has changed over time. Quebec is looking to shift the funding burden for universities from the province to the students, a mistake made in BC while I was studying for my BA.

When I started at UVIC in 1988, student tuition covered 12% of the cost of the university budget. in 2011, UVIC's annual review reported student tuition covers 21% of the universities budget. [pdf].

In 2009, after a round of 30% per year tuition increases, UVIC conducted a study on the impact on students (pdf) that is worth a read. UVIC worked hard to increase grants to students and address these problems. The 2011 review cited above also shows this increase in grants and support.

Anyone can compare the funding situation of universities in BC because university audits are public and published on the Ministry of Advanced Education website here.

Science for profit: Conservatives target the National Research Council | rabble.ca

More on the budget, the national research council and funding in the 2012 budget for graduate students, in this editorial from Rabble:

Science for profit: Conservatives target the National Research Council | rabble.ca

Canadian Medical Association weighs in on CIHR and other research cuts

The devil is in the details, and a great summary of concerns about research funding has been provided in today's Canadian Medical Association journal.

I have quoted from the article below any sections directly related to resaerch funding not reported in my previous post on the budget, but I htink the entire article is worth a read for those interested in details of how budget policies relate to health and health research.

CIHR cuts are a shift in funds to "targetted research"

 And in several cases, a departmental or agency cut is offset by an injection of new funds for a targeted purpose, so the effect is often a wash. For example, while the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) budget will be reduced $15 million in 2012/13 as a result of the spending review exercise, the granting council received $15 million per year to support its Strategy for Patient-Oriented Research (www.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/e/41204.html and www.cmaj.ca/lookup/doi/10.1503/cmaj.109-4161). 

Cuts to NSERC, SSHRC, are also a shift of funds to increased support for "industry-academic research partnership initiatives"

As with CIHR, the spending review exercise resulted in a $15 million cut to the budget of the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) in 2012/13, and an additional $15 million in the following fiscal year. The budget of the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) was cut $7 million for 2012/13 and another $7 million the following year. But the 2012/13 cuts are offset by the provision of $37 million annually ($15 million to CIHR, $15 million to NSERC and $7 million to SSHRC) in “support of industry-academic research partnership initiatives.” The staggered cuts could result in a serious hit to granting councils base budgets in 2013/14 but Treasury Board and Finance officials, who speak on condition of anonymity during budget background briefings, indicated that the expectations are that the bolstered funding for industry-academic partnerships will be repeated in next year’s federal budget, so that council budgets will continue to remain at roughly $1 billion apiece for CIHR and NSERC, and about $651 million for SSHRC. “The net effect is that overall council funding will be unchanged,” one Finance official stressed. That’s based, though on the presumption of an increase for 2013/14. About 25% of the medical and natural sciences budgets, and 45% of the social sciences budget, represents monies administered by the councils on behalf of the government for special initiatives, such as one to cover the indirect costs of research.

and if that sank your spirits, you may be cheered to know there is new funding for depression research:

$5.2 million will be provided to support the creation of a Canadian Depression Research and Intervention Network by the Mood Disorders Society of Canada and the Mental Health Commission of Canada. It will connect “over 80 of Canada’s brightest depression researchers from across the country. Particular focus will be on suicide prevention and identifying and treating post-traumatic stress disorder. Funding provided in the budget will serve as a catalyst for private and public sector investment.”

Devils in the details on the controversial change of NRC to a more industry-related body.

The National Research Council will continue to be restructured as a toolbox for industry, receiving an additional $67 million this year to support its “refocusing on business-led, industry-relevant research.” The council will also see its Industrial Research Assistance Program contributions budget, which provides extramural grants to businesses to develop products, double to $220 million per year. The combined increases will hike the National Research Council’s overall budget to $700.5 million in 2012/13.

and finally: 

 $12 million per year will be set aside to make the Business-Led Networks of Centres of Excellence program “permanent.” In the original competition to create such networks, the four winners included the Quebec Consortium for Drug Discovery-CQDM (Nuns’ Island, Quebec), which aimed to “accelerate the drug discovery process and to develop safer and more effective drugs.”

Federal Budget & Grad students

Updated: links to responses to budget for research/graduate study added below

The budget was touted for many cuts (and the demise of the penny!), but there are some additional resources for research, when business related, plus small increases for graduate students.

You can see the (more) detailed budget plan section on "Supporting Entrepreneurs, Innovators and World-Class Research"
Or visit the budget main page here, which includes briefs, press releases, the full budget plan, and even a video of the Minister looking really serious (kids in the hall fans may think he is about to crush your head).

The following is the quick version of the funding increases related to university research:

"Support for Research, Education and Training
The Government is committed to providing additional resources to support advanced research at universities and other leading research institutions. Economic Action Plan 2012 proposes:

• $37 million annually starting in 2012–13 to the granting councils to enhance their support for industry-academic research partnerships.

• $60 million for Genome Canada to launch a new applied research competition in the area of human health, and to sustain the Science and Technology Centres until 2014–15.

• $6.5 million over three years for a research project at McMaster University to evaluate team-based approaches to health care delivery.

• $17 million over two years to further advance the development of alternatives to existing isotope production technologies.

• $10 million over two years to the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research to link Canadians to global research networks.

• $500 million over five years, starting in 2014–15, to the Canada Foundation for Innovation to support advanced research infrastructure.

• $40 million over two years to support CANARIE’s operation of Canada’s ultra-high speed research network.

• $23 million over two years to Natural Resources Canada to enhance satellite data reception capacity."

  
  
  [How did McMaster do it? (shakes fist)! Develops theory.]
  
  There are also some items of particular grad student interest:
  
  
  

  "Economic Action Plan 2012 proposes $14 million over two years to double the Industrial Research and Development Internship program.
  The Industrial Research and Development Internship program currently helps 1,000 graduate students undertake hands-on research in innovative Canadian firms each year. This initiative provides host firms with access to cutting-edge research and skills, while providing students with valuable applied research experience in a private sector setting. To double the resources of the Industrial Research and Development Internship program, Economic Action Plan 2012 proposes $14 million over two years. This new funding will be administered by Mitacs, an advanced research organization with a proven track record of helping businesses solve problems through access to graduate students."

  
  and,
  
  

  "This new approach will promote business innovation through improved support for high-growth companies, research collaborations, procurement opportunities, applied research and risk financing. This will provide a solid foundation on which Canada’s globally competitive businesses can build by making the investments in innovation required to create high-value jobs and long-term economic growth. In particular, the Government will:... Support private and public research collaboration through internships for graduate students and funding for business-led research and development.  ..."

 I hope all that extra money means these internships will be paid.

UPDATE: Responses to budget:

CIHR provided some excellent summaries of how reasearch money is shifting (my summary here)

CBC Power Politics longer interview on innovation and the budget (video)

Liberal finance critic, MP Scott Bryson, described the research funding as a "shell game" on CBC's As it happens March 29, 2012. He said funds that once went to innovation in the private sector was being shifted to the public sector, which was being cut, thus leaving the private sector worse served in terms of supporting research. NDP critic also on, doesn't speak to the research funding. Check out the CBC As It Happens budget interviews (before there is 11% less of it).

NDP tried to get a jump start calling for the  National Research Council to be saved the day before the budget was launched.

The Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada (AUCC)  applauded the research funding  and the Canadian Association of Graduate Studies also called the budget a positive development (PDF) but the press release "noted the details are still sketchy".

Meanwhile, the Canadian Association of University Teachers said the budget "compromises research, hinders prosperity", saying tying research to commercial goals will hinder, not help, innovation.

And from the student groups: CASA says thumbs down [pdf], saying it shifts money from granting councils to industry related research, and the CFS love it. Just kidding, they don't like it either.

UBC likes it. So does UVIC, but we have less to say, and refer back to the AUCC statement.

Mixed reaction from the business community according to the Financial Post

A few days pre-budget, the Globe and Mail had some more in depth coverage on how r&d  funding for industry works now, and proposed changes with the budget.

Also of interest:

CCPA alternative federal budget

The value of university communities -- from an old GSS chair

Past GSS Executive Member, Basil Alexander wrote this interesting piece ont he value of university communities. Pleased to see involvement with groups like the GSS is part of his positive memories of UVIC!

His thoughts on building communities withing universities are of interest to me -- in part because my own studies are in community development, but also because of his call to "leave the silos" that build up in academia, and this is something I hear echoed by graduate students when they are feeling isolated and struggling with their program.

http://www.aucc.ca/future-avenir/we-need-to-be-better-success-centres-and-communities/

SFU students and CFS settle out of court

SFU Students Society no longer a member of the Canadian Federation of Students.

After a long dispute (since 2008), the SFSS and CFS have settled out of court.

This is the text of the statement that was agreed upon Dec 23rd and publicly released today.




"The Canadian Federation of Students and Simon Fraser Student Society Reach Out of Court Resolution.






The Canadian Federation of Students, Canadian Federation of Students - Services, Canadian Federation of Students - British Columbia Component (collectively, the "CFS Entities") and the Simon Fraser Student Society


("SFSS") have come to an amicable, out of court resolution of their dispute regarding the SFSS voting membership in the CFS Entities.


As part of this resolution it is agreed that the membership has ended.


The agreement was motivated by a desire on the part of all parties to resolve all outstanding issues. The parties have agreed to this common statement and have agreed to make no further public statements regarding this matter."

Federal budget consultations: making the case for grad students

The federal government is hosting budget consultations, and have a simple online form where citizens can submit their comments.


These consultations are a simple way to let the federal government know what you think of federal funding for graduate study and the role of graduate study in the economy.

 

Not sure what to say? Check out the following information sources... they spark a lot of ideas about the role of graduate school, and the impact it has on our society.

 

The Canadian Association for Graduate Studies has this letter to the Federal Government on how to better support graduate studies and Canada's low (2nd last by OECD ranking) investment in graduate education:

 

1. Investing in the granting councils
2. Investing in international grad students in Canada
3. Invest in innovative skills training for grad students and post docs
4. Invest in post docs.

The budget consultation is a venue for supporting this ideas.

 

Perhaps you are interested in your field of research and its role in the economy...

The OECD has all manner of statistics on the impact of education, research and development and how Canada's funding ranks compared to other OECD nations.

 

OECD study on education funding. (Tertiary education is post secondary education, but doesn't break down between a bachelors, masters and PhD).

The OECD database is searchable on many subjects, so you can search for data on our priorities in science and engineering, health, environment, business, education, and doctoral graduates, depending on your interest.

 

For example:

 

In 2011 Canada is below average in OECD for doctoral graduate rates (but is close to average at PhDs awarded to women: 44% of Canadian PhDs - OECD average is 46% -- Canada's rate hasn't changed since 2009, but OECD has gone from 43% to 46% average between 2009 and 2011):

 

 

Direct funding of Research and Development (2011 stats) includes this amazing chart, which shows how those R&D dollars are spent - are they going to defence or universities or health?

 

 

Here is Canada (2009) vs OECD breakdown (2008) by % of direct Research and Development spending:

  

• Defence: Canada 3.2% OECD 31.8%
• Health & Environment: Canada 22.7% OECD: 17.5%
• Economic Development: Canada 25.8% OECD 15%
• General University Funds: Canada 33.3% OECD 16.1%
• Non-oriented: Canada 7.7% OECD 11.3%
• Other Canada 7.3% OECD 8.4%

... but remember that Canada spends less than the OECD average (govt appropriations as % of GDP) on research and development:

 

Spending on R&D as % of GDP (2010): Canada .61% OECD average .75%

 

 

Canada Research Chairs and Equity

The Canada Research Chairs Program announced a program to encourage equity among research chair awards. In 2010, a new Canada Excellence Research Chairs raised the ire of many when it appointed all men to its first round of awardees. The general research chairs program was already considered a poor performer on gender equity, and in fact a human rights complaint had been settled previously to improve the Canada Research Chair program's equity ... but that agreement doesn't apply to the new Canada Excellence Research Chairs program.

The equity project arises from the human rights complaint settlement, and has now established an ongoing cycle of (mandatory) equity audits and (optional) recognition programs featuring successful equity practices.

The first year will focus on medium universities ... so UVIC will be among them.

Full notice is follows from the CRC follows:




Canada Research Chairs Program announcement: Equity target setting exercise and new Recognition Process for universities




Background:



In 2006, the Canada Research Chairs Program reached a settlement agreement concerning the representation of four designated groups (women, Aboriginal peoples, persons with disabilities and members of visible minorities) among Chair recipients. As part of this agreement, the Chairs program has worked with universities to ensure that they follow open, transparent and equitable recruitment practices and to establish targets for the representation of the four designated groups. The Chairs program is now launching a Recognition Process to recognize universities with exemplary equity practices in recruiting, nominating and appointing Canada Research Chairs (CRC) and meeting their equity targets.



Overview of the CRC Equity Target Setting and Recognition Process:



A first target setting exercise was completed for all institutions in 2008-09. Starting this year, the exercise will be run annually, but only for a subset of universities (small, medium or large)*.



Each year, one subset of universities will be required to complete the target setting exercise and will be invited to nominate their university for recognition of their equity practices. Thus, each university will participate in the target setting and recognition process only once every three years.



The first subset of universities to take part in this process is the medium size universities. The universities of this subset will receive all necessary information and materials in a separate email, in November 2011. The Chairs Secretariat will require that medium size universities submit the information for target setting within 2 months. The Secretariat will use the data provided by universities to establish a baseline and monitor progress in meeting established targets for members of the four designated groups.



The Recognition Process is being introduced as a voluntary component of the mandatory target setting exercise. Applications will be considered by the Chairs program’s Advisory Committee on Equity Policy. The Secretariat will select one institution annually to be recognized as having exemplary practices in equity.



Why would an institution want to be profiled?



The selected institution will receive a certificate and an invitation to present its equity practices at a national conference (TBD). In addition, the institution will be profiled on the Chairs program website and will have the opportunity to use the logo (below) identifying them as recognized by the Chairs program as having exemplary practices in equity.







The Secretariat invites chairholders to support this new initiative at their university. The collaboration of all program stakeholders is necessary to ensure that our program remains equitable while supporting excellence in research.



Should you have any questions about this process, please contact Louise-Michelle Verrier at (613) 995-3236 or by e-mail at louise-michelle.verrier@chairs-chaires.gc.ca.



*The list of the universities participating in the Chairs program by subset is attached.





Michèle Boutin

Executive Director

Chairs Secretariat







Annonce du Programme des chaires de recherche du Canada : Exercice d'établissement des objectifs en matière d’équité et nouveau processus de reconnaissance pour les universités

Contexte

En 2006, le Programme des chaires de recherche du Canada (PCRC) a conclu un accord de règlement relativement à la représentation des membres des quatre groupes désignés (les femmes, les Autochtones, les personnes handicapées et les minorités visibles) parmi les titulaires de chaires. Afin de satisfaire à cette entente, le secrétariat du Programme a travaillé en collaboration avec les universités afin de s’assurer que les pratiques de recrutement des titulaires de chaire soient ouvertes, transparentes et équitables et pour établir des objectifs de représentation des membres des quatre groupes désignés. Le programme des chaires procède actuellement au lancement d'un processus visant à reconnaître les universités qui font preuve de pratiques exemplaires en matière d’équité dans le recrutement, la mise en candidature de titulaires de chaire et la dotation de chaires et qui atteignent leurs objectifs en matière d’équité.

Aperçu de l'exercice d'établissement des objectifs en matière d'équité dans le cadre du PCRC et processus de reconnaissance

Un premier exercice d'établissement des objectifs a été réalisé en 2008-2009 pour tous les établissements. À compter de cette année, l'exercice sera réalisé tous les ans, mais seulement pour un sous-ensemble d'universités (de petite, moyenne ou grande taille)**.

Chaque année, un sous-ensemble d'universités devra compléter l'exercice d'établissement des objectifs et sera invité à présenter la candidature de son université en vue d'obtenir une reconnaissance pour ses pratiques en matière d'équité. Par conséquent, chaque université participera à l'établissement des objectifs et au processus de reconnaissance seulement une fois tous les trois ans.

Le premier sous-ensemble d'universités qui participera à ce processus est celui des universités de taille moyenne. Les universités faisant partie de ce sous-ensemble recevront tous les renseignements et les documents nécessaires dans un autre courriel, en novembre 2011. Les universités de taille moyenne disposeront de deux mois pour faire parvenir les renseignements relatifs à l'établissement des objectifs. Le secrétariat du Programme des chaires de recherche du Canada analysera les données transmises par les universités afin d’établir des paramètres de référence concernant la représentation des groupes désignés et de faire, par la suite, un suivi des progrès réalisés dans le but d’atteindre les objectifs fixés.

Le processus de reconnaissance est présenté comme une composante optionnelle de l'exercice obligatoire d'établissement des objectifs. Les demandes seront prises en considération par le Comité consultatif sur les politiques en matière d'équité du Programme. Tous les ans, le secrétariat sélectionnera un établissement dont les pratiques exemplaires en matière d'équité seront reconnues.

Pourquoi un établissement aurait-il intérêt à être sélectionné?

L'établissement sélectionné recevra un certificat et sera invité à présenter ses pratiques en matière d'équité lors d’un congrès national (à déterminer). En outre, l'établissement sera présenté sur le site Web du PCRC et pourra utiliser le logo (ci-dessous) qui le désigne comme un établissement reconnu par le Programme pour ses pratiques exemplaires en matière d'équité.



Le Secrétariat invite les titulaires de chaire à appuyer cette nouvelle initiative au sein de leur université. La collaboration de tous les intervenants engagés dans le programme est nécessaire afin de veiller à ce que notre programme demeure équitable tout en appuyant l'excellence dans la recherche.

Pour toute question au sujet de ce processus, veuillez communiquer avec Louise-Michelle Verrier, au 613-995-3236 ou par courriel à l’adresse louise-michelle.verrier@chairs-chaires.gc.ca.

** La liste des universités participant au Programme des chaires de recherche du Canada par sous-ensemble est présentée dans le document ci-joint



Michèle Boutin

Directrice générale

Secrétariat des chaires





This e-mail originates from the Council of Canadian Academies e-mail system. The e-mail and any attachments are confidential and may be subject to copyright. Any unauthorized use, copying, or disclosure is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please delete and contact the sender immediately. Please consider the environment before printing this e-mail.



Le présent courriel a été expédié par le système d’envoi de courriels du Conseil des académies canadiennes. Ce courriel, ainsi que tout fichier qui y est joint, est confidentiel et peut être protégé par les droits d’auteurs. Toute reproduction, utilisation ou diffusion, par quelque moyen que ce soit, sans autorisation est interdite. Si le lecteur du présent message n’est pas le destinataire prévu, il est prié de noter qu’il ne doit ni divulguer, ni distribuer, ni copier ce message et tout fichier qui y est joint, ni s’en servir à quelque fin que ce soit. Merci d’en aviser l’expéditeur par retour de courriel et de supprimer ce message ainsi que tout fichier joint. Pensez à l’environnement. N’imprimez ce courriel que si vous en avez vraiment besoin.

Globe Graduate Studies section for MBAs only

For a moment I was excited to see the Globe and Mail has added a "Graduate Strudies" section to their education report.http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/education/graduatestudies/

However, a quick review shows that virtually every story is about MBA students -- ony 6 of 43 posts thus far are about a subject other than MBA programs. And even the 6 non-MBA stories were often more general interest than graduate studies (ie. scandal related to a speech at convocation, kids visit a lab, etc).

It is too bad because there are lots of interesting things to consider about graduate school -- changes to research funding, corporate involvement on granting council boards, research facilities in various universities, the changing demographic of graduate school. Even graduate student unions occasionally do something interesting!

So, if you are an MBA student, I encourage you to have a look.. there is some interesting stuff there. Otherwise, unfortunately, not so much.

Free and fun services at the public library

Looking for some entertainment but have a limited budget? Consider some of these awesome services available free at the public library...

(This is the Greater Victoria Public Library, not our campus libraries, btw. Any Victoria resident can get a public library card by bringing in a piece of mail, such as a utility bill, for proof of address).

Take the family to the BC Museum for free -- sign out a museum pass for the weekend at the library!

Borrow music with freegle or a mystery novel (e-book or audio book) online through the library to go service!
 
And forget about that comps reading list... check out the 100 picture books to be read before kindergarten! (I am so behind--some of those were written after I turned 30!)

How nerdy is this ... they have links to library-loving apps. Need the app for stats can? I didn't know I did until I saw it on the library's app site.

Do you, like me, spend time working on your research while your child is doing homework? Check out the homework help section for kids.

Going overseas to do some research? Try learning a language online with Mango.

And of course we cannot forget books. Remember those? I don't mean the ones you are reading for your research, I mean novels--everything from award winning fiction to junky thrillers. Ah, books, you used to be about relaxing!!! And if you want some recommendations, you can use NoveList and other suggestion making resources, which suggests similar books to those you already enjoy--search by author or theme. The new library site also lets you post reviews and follow other library users with similar interests.

Want a new study spot? The library also has lovely study space for when the Mearns feels too crowded. Wifi is free with your public library card too.

All of these great things in one place ... in your neighbourhood, or online.